Dutch-South Australian Radio Station 25/4/2019

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Public Speech by John Pieter Souisa, The Supreme Command Center, to
commemorate Maluku independence (April 25, 1950) in April 25, 2019.



Translator by Paul Bastian Souisa



Good evening brothers and sisters from the Pacific / Melanesia and
Polynesia.
Today is April 25 and I will speak briefly at this event commemorating
Maluku's independence day from April 25, 1950.

My name is John Pieter Souisa, a first Nations man from the Moluccas.



I
am a retired navy Officer who served with the Indonesian Navy for
several years, in submarines, amphibious vehicles, destroyers and
section heads in the Armory in Ambon Navy, Maluku.

Ambon, Maluku had been home to Christians and Muslims living happily
side by side for many centuries.



I was involved with the underground movement in Ambon, Maluku, to demand
the independence of Maluku which had been illegally seized by
Indonesia. I was part of the leadership of the Supreme Command Center in
Tanah Air Maluku for the government of the Republic of South Maluku.



In 1988 while still active in the Navy, I was captured by the
Indonesian military and held as a political prisoner in Ambon; the
capital of Maluku. At the time it was under the rule of the Soeharto
government, which had previously led Indonesia to colonize the entire
Dutch colonial archipelago.

Later that year, after being tortured, beaten and electrocuted by
Indonesian military, I was released, but not free from constant military
surveillance as I continued my life.

Leading up to 1999, religion was used by the Indonesian government as a
political tool to cause separation between Maluku compatriots in the
struggle of the RMS (Republic of South Maluku).



Indonesian politics also used this as a way of ethnic cleansing of
indigenous Moluccas in the land of their country.
They used a transmigration program to relocate many muslims from Java
into Maluku, where, until that time, the local Muslims and Christians
had lived together in harmony.

The indonesian transmigration program was carried out without adequate
security, economic stability, or development in Maluku for the welfare
of a dense and irregular population.



Also on the other hand the militarization of Indonesia where the
military controls the government, was used to control the people in
colonial oppression in every aspect of life.

The politics of government in Jakarta was deliberately played through
its intelligence services in every corner of the police and military
corps, which were channeled to create a complaint among civil society on
religious grounds.

In 1999 a holy war 'Jihad' broke out in Ambon. Christians were targetted
with Christian villages

burnt to the ground, and thousands of Christian
people were killed as Moluccans fought for their lives.



I risked my life to sail to Australia to inform the world of the
religious war occuring in Ambon at the time. By January 24, 2000, I
arrived in Australia because of the religious war in my country that
could not be stopped at that time.

My duty in Australia having achieved political asylum, is to inform the
world about the failure of the Indonesian government; the ugliness of
colonialism and their criminal actions against the Moluccas from the
1950s to the present.



Since I arrived in Australia, I have been protected, and cared for by
the Australian government, and have been communicating a lot about
things that need to be discussed.

During World War II Moluccans fought alongside the ANZACS and allies
against the Japanese invasion of Maluku. (Meanwhile, the Indonesian
Government was cooperating with Japan...) There is a garden cemetery in
Ambon for hundreds of allied troops (mostly Australian) who perished
during that combat.



One day, I wish the full willingness of the Australian government as an
old friend to become a mediator to the world through the UN, so that war
crimes and Indonesian colonization in Maluku can end.

It is only then that I can return to my beloved land and pray for
Pela-Gandong (traditional relationship between moluccan Muslim and
Christians.)



Before I conclude my message, I, as an intermediary and one of the
leaders of the Moluccas in Australia, thank the Melanesian and
Polynesian brothers and sisters, who gave their willingness to help
celebrate Maluku's independence, present as an intermediary for the
nation, and support for justice for Maluku which is located between the
tip of the Pacific and Asia.



Especially my thanks to the President of PICSA, Mr. Tukini, Ms Kylie,
and to any who helped coordinate this event.



I hope that with the existence of Pacific Unity through the community,
and its Pacific delegation in Australia, it can become a fertile fruit
for the Maluku struggle and the common good, and the world.



Thank you and accept the greetings of the independence of the Moluccan
people: 'MENA-MURIA'.



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